9 Awesome Movie Opening Title Sequences

I miss title sequences. I realized this while watching The First Wives Club two weeks ago. (Have you seen that into? It’s so colorful and inspiring!) Movies nowadays skip the opening credits, and jump right into the action. It’s like meeting someone for the first time and not shaking hands or sharing names. There’s usually a whole scene before the title of the movie is introduced, and while that’s not exactly a bad thing, ditching the opening sequence is a missed creative opportunity for filmmakers.

My father swears that the first movie I saw at the theater was The Lion King, but I was four and have no recollection of the event. The first film I remember watching in that sacred place is My Best Friend’s Wedding (I was seven). I was in complete awe from the very beginning. That opening title sequence with the bride and her bridesmaids singing and dancing totally encapsulates the whole movie. It’s a sweet start and one of my favorites. So, in light of the lost art of title sequences, here are 9 awesome opening credits.

Splice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnYxgt3g-Us

In the opening of Splice, we travel through the inside of a human being (or what looks to be anyway). This movie is about scientists who take different types of DNA to create a new type of being. There are a lot of special things about this opening – the carved out names are nice touches. But the bubbling effect and scaly surfaces tie in nicely with the movie. It’s definitly a strong start.

Vertigo

How could I leave out Alfred Hitchcock’s intro to Vertigo. This is a classic, and one of the best ever. The opening establishes the film’s mood perfectly. It’s mysterious, daring and filled with horror. The music and the images blend nicely, and it all goes with what follows.

Superbad

Here’s a fun opening for a fun (& funny) movie. I love the dancing silhouettes of Michael Cera and Jonah Hill. It’s a nice introduction to their quirky moves, which we get to see later on in the movie.

The First Wives Club

The opening to The First Wives Club is completely underrated. The “comic-book”–style sequence introduces each actor with a lot of flavor and glamour. It’s such a colorful opening, and very dramatic, just like the movie.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcp9Ysi75f0

David Fincher knows how to introduce a movie. His Seven intro is fantastic, but this one is totally badass. You can tell that a lot of thought and time went into this sequence. It takes things to a whole new level, and offers that hook that makes The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo so memorable. And Karen O.’s rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” is chilling and sexy.

Sunset Boulevard

The intro to Sunset Boulevard is very simple. There are no special effects. No fireworks. No face closeups. The opening shot is of a sidewalk, which conveniently tells us the title of the movie. The credits follow, introducing us to the whole cast and crew, and it’s not until after the (last) name of the director (Billy Wilder) is shown, that the movie begins. It’s a simple yet brilliant beginning, and Franz Waxman’s intense score is so good.

Snatch

Guy Ritchie does a fantastic job introducing Snatch. You get a sense of his style right away. The opening is fast-paced, naughty, interesting and best of all, it introduces you to everyone. I appreciate openings that are that effective. It makes it easy to remember who’s who.

The Fall

The Fall was a 2006 film by Indian director Tarsem Singh, presented by David Fincher and Spike Jonze. This title sequence is beautifully shot. The images look so crisp, and the monochrome effect makes it all feel extremely personal.

My Best Friend’s Wedding

Like I mentioned above, I absolutely love the opening to My Best Friend’s Wedding. It’s so pink and pretty, and the song is very catchy. Despite how you might feel about the movie, you can’t deny that that’s a spectacular beginning. There’s nothing like it.